Box



C. F. M ALEER June 5, 1934.

BOX

Filed June 12, 1931 INVENTOR T m m A m Patented June 5, 1934 BOX Charles F. McAleer, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo,

Mich.

Application June 12, 1931, Serial No. 543,918

10 Claims.

The main object of the invention is to provide a box with means associated therewith for closing and sealing the cover which may be readily broken without injuring the box or its contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box of this type which is simple'in construction, economical to manufacture and efficient in operation.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying my invention completely closed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box partly opened.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the box blank.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the composite sealing flap partly raised after the sealing material has been broken between the front wall and the flap, and

Fig. 6 shows the sealing flap entirely broken away from the front wall of the box.

Referring to the drawing, the box 1 is preferably formed of an integral blank 2 of flexible material such as cardboard scored so as to provide a cover 3, a back 4, a bottom 5 and a front 6. These portions are folded along the scored lines 7 and are provided with end flaps 8, 9, 10 and 11 respectively. The end flaps are folded inwardly along the scoring lines 12.

The end flaps ll of the front wall 6 are provided with curved slits 13 which are adapted to receive tongues 14 provided on the end flaps 9 of the back 4.

The front wall 6 is provided with a sealing flap 15 which is connected to the front by a perforated connection 16 facilitating ready severance. The cover 3 is provided with a coacting sealing flap 1'7 which is adapted to overlap the flap 15 after the box has been set up as shown in Fig. 1. The sealing flap 17 of the top 3 is adapt ed to be folded along the dotted line 18. The upper part of the flap 15 is glued to the front 6 as indicated at 19, by Fig. 4. Similarly, the flap 1'? overflaps and is glued to the flap 15 as indicated at 20. When glued together in this manner, the flaps form a composite flap of considerable stiffness which may be used to break the seal and open the box after it has been closed in the manner described above.

To open the top 3, the lower ends of the flaps 15 and 17 are graspedand the flaps are pulled outwardly to the position indicated by Fig. 5. This results in the breaking of the glue connection between the flap 15 and the front 6. The lifting of the flaps l5 and 17 is continued which results in the flap 15 tearing away from the front 6 at the perforated connection 16. Fig. 6 shows the position of the parts after the flap 15 has been torn away from the front 6. Th cover is then free to be opened as desired.

The end flaps 8 of the cover 3 are preferably curved on their front edges at 21 so that they do not interfere with the upward swing of the cover 3 after the seal has been broken.

It will be readily understood from the above description that the opening of the box does not disturb or injure the contents thereof and the box is still substantially intact. This is a very important feature inasmuch as in the past it has been necessary to practically destroy the strips in order to remove the contents thereof without manipulating the end flaps.

This arrangement of sealing means also facilitates manufacture as the flaps may be glued as successive steps in a continuous machine operation.

While the box illustrated and described is particularly applicable as an ice cream container, it will be understood that it may be used for other purposes as, for example, for butter and the like.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, various changes may be made in detail therein without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a box, the combination with a cover having a sealing flap adapted to overlap the front of the box, of a front wall having a sealing flap at its upper edge folded downwardly on the outer side thereof adjacent said cover flap, the connection between said flap and front wall being perforated, sealing means connecting said flap to said front portion, and sealing means connectin g said flaps whereby to form a composite flap which may be raised to open said cover thereby breaking the sealing means between said flap and said front wall and tearing said front wall flap from said front wall at said perforated connection.

2. A paper box, comprising a cover and a front,

of means for securing said cover comprising a flap extending from the front edge of said cover, a flap extending from said box front and having a perforated connection therewith, means binding said flaps together, and means binding said front flap to said front, whereby said cover may be opened by tearing said flaps away from said front at the position of said binding means and at said perforated connection.

3. A box formed of an integral blank and comprising bottom, front, rear and top walls, each having coacting end flaps, the, ends flaps of the front and rear walls having coacting locking means, the front wall having a sealing flap on its upper edge joined thereto by a weakened connection to facilitate severing, the top having a sealing flap on its front edge overlapping and glued to the sealing flap of the front wall, the sealing flap of the front wall being glued to the front along its upper portion only thereby facilitating the grasping of the overlapping flaps, the front edges of the top end flaps being curved rearwardly so that the top may be swung freely on its connection to the rear wall without previously releasing the top flaps.

4. A box formed of an integral blank and comprising bottom, front, rear and top walls, the front wall having a sealing flap on its upper edge joined thereto by a weakened connection to facilitate severing, the top having a sealing flap on its front edge overlapping and glued to the sealing flap of the front wall, the sealing flap of the front wall being glued to the front wall along its upper portion only thereby facilitating the grasping of the overlaping flaps.

5. A box formed of an integral blank and comprising bottom, front, rear and top walls, each having coacting end flaps, the end flaps of the front and rear walls having coacting locking means, the front wall having a sealing flap on its upper edge joined thereto by a weakened connection to facilitate severing, the top having a sealing flap on its front edge overlapping and glued to the sealing flap of the front wall, the front edges of the top end flaps being curved rearwardly so that the top may be swung freely on its connection to the rear wall without previously releasing the top flaps.

6. A box formed of an integral blank and comprising bottom, front, rear and top walls, the front wall having a sealing flap on its upper edge joined thereto by a weakened connection to facilitate severing, the top having a sealing flap on its front edge overlapping and glued to the sealing flap of the front wall.

'7. A box having cover, bottom, front and back. and end portions provided with inwardly folded end flaps, said cover and said front portion having overlapping 'flaps glued together and to the front of said front portion, whereby said box may be readily opened by tearing said glued flaps away from said front portion.

8. A box comprising a front wall having a sealing flap on its upper edge joined thereto by a weakened connection to facilitate severing, and a top having a sealing flap on its front edge overlapping and glued to the sealing flap of the front wall, said superimposed and connected flaps being superimposed upon and glued to the front wall.

9. A box comprising a front wall having a sealing flap on its upper edge joined thereto by a weakened connection to facilitate severing and folded upon and glued to the outer side of the front wall, and a top having a sealing flap on its front edge overlapping and glued to the sealing flap of the front wall providing a stiffened closure flap which may be readily broken and severed from the front wall along said weakened connection.

10. A box comprising a front wall having a sealing flap on its upper edge joined thereto by a weakened connection to facilitate severing and folded upon the outer side of the front wall, and a top having a sealing flap on its front edge 115 overlapping and glued to the sealing flap of the front wall providing a stiffened closure flap which may be readily severed from the front wall along said weakened connection.

CHARLES F. McALEER. 

